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Monday, December 28, 2015

Happy New Year 2016!!

On behalf of The Teller and the Tale and all my guests, I would like to wish all our listeners a very Happy New Year!

I look forward to 2016 and the opportunity to bring you more great stories and storytellers, all told "eye to eye, mind to mind, and heart to heart."

Of course, there'd be no programme if we didn't have you as our listeners. I'm privileged to have wonderful listeners like you -- from all over the world. Listeners have contacted me from across the UK, Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, South Africa, Scandanavia, and even the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. I send good wishes to all of you and look forward to your continued support in the coming year.

Please feel free to contact me via email or use the voicemail service and leave a messsage or a story of your own. I might even use it on the show. And, if you haven't already done so, please subscribe and receive the free newsletter with information about upcoming guests.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

This week The Teller and the Tale celebrates Christmas with contributions from The Beatles, John McCutcheon, Bob Dylan, and Gord Bamford. Also, host and storyteller Michael Williams shares a new story created especially for the occasion and inspired by his reading of a short story by Leo Tolstoy.

It all gets underway on Sunday 20th December at 7am EDT (Canada/US), 12noon (UK/Ireland) and 9pm (Australia).

Repeated on Thursday 24th December at 4pm (Canada/US), 9pm (UK/Ireland) and 6am Christmas Day in Australia.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

This week, the Teller and the Tale rewinds back to my interview with Danish storyteller Marianne Christensen. Marianne was born in Vordingborg, a small town in the south of Denmark and home to many generations of her family. Her grandparents were wonderful storytellers, telling tales of farming and everyday life in the region, and Marianne recounts her childhood memories of hearing these stories.

Marianne brings compassion, courage, and humour to her storytelling. Just a few minutes in her company will enthuse you with her passion; after half an hour, you just might find yourself following in her footsteps on your own storytelling journey.

The show gets underway on Sunday 6 December and Thursday 10 December 2015. Sunday's show begins at 7am EDT (Can/US). Thursday's show starts at 4pm EDT (Can/US). Check www.bluesandrootsradio.com for times in your area.

Monday, November 23, 2015

This week, the Teller and the Tale features stories of war and remembrance from Canadian storyteller and writer Nils Ling and American storyteller Dan Keding. Host Michael Williams adds a short tale from Dan's repertoire and features music from Scots-Australian folksinger Eric Bogle. Begins Sunday 22 November and repeated on Thursday 25 November. See www.bluesandrootsradio.com for scheduling details on your area.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

This week, the Teller and the Tale returns to a previous programme run in 2013 to features actor, writer, playwright, and storyteller Ray Armstrong.

Ray shares some hilarious tales of being a young man dreaming of being Tarzan in the Norfolk woods, working as a woodsman, and travelling the length and breadth of the UK with a troupe of actors, putting on children's plays. He's also an enchanter when it comes to traditional tales as you will hear.

Now in his 70s, Ray lives in the Findhorn Community of northern Scotland where he still continues to organise plays and storytelling sessions. Don't miss this show. Listen to Ray share his life and some delightful stories.

It all begins Oct 11th at 7am EDT (Canada/US), 12noon BST (UK/Ireland) and 9pm in Australia. Only on Blues and Roots Radio.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Join me on this week's Teller and the Tale when I meet up with Scottish
storyteller Allison Galbraith. The stories begin on Sunday 20th Sept at
7am EDT (Can/US), 12noon BST (UK/Ireland) and 9pm EST (Australia). Only
on Blues and Roots Radio, www.bluesandrootsradio.co.uk.

Born in England to
Scottish parents, Allison now lives in Lanark, south of Glasgow. [She
also has Canadian connections -- her great, great grandfather Hugh
Campbell emigrated in the 1920s settling in my hometown of Hamilton
Ontario. His sister later married into the Emslie family, so if there
are any Emslies reading this or listening to the show next week, get in
touch.]

Allison
started storytelling back in the 1980s when she started telling stories
to Travellers' children in the Midlands. Since then, she's taken her
passion for storytelling all over the UK. She has a wide repertoire of
stories and accents with which to tell them. She loves nature stories
and revels in tales of the faery folk from the Celtic tradition.

Listeners of The Teller and the Tale asked 3 questions of our storytellers. Read on for Alison's answers.

1. What called you to storytelling?

In my first
proper job - a part-time, community librarian - I used to entertain the
local travelers' children, by reading them stories in the dinky one-room
library. Read more . . .

Sunday, September 6, 2015

This week on The Teller and the Tale, I re-visit a conversation I had in 2014 with storyteller and poet Janelle Combelic.

Janelle is originally from Colorado but has travelled the world. In 2011 she married and settled down near the eco-spiritual-holistic community of Findhorn in the north of Scotland where she founded and co-hosts a monthly storytelling ceilidh among other things.

Janelle is also a writer, poet, and mindfulness practitioner with a grounding in Buddhist practice. Not surprisingly much of her storytelling explores themes of forgiveness and compassion and peace.

Listen to Janelle share her life and stories this week beginning Sunday 6 September 7am EDT (Canada/US), 12noon BST (UK), and 9pm EST (Australia). Repeated on Tuesdays and Thursdays. See www.bluesandrootsradio.com for full details of times in your area of the world.

Friday, July 31, 2015

This week on the Teller and the Tale, I am pleased to bring you a two-part programme featuring the talented singer Christina Stewart. Based in the Highlands, Christina sings Gaelic, Scots, and English songs drawn from her Scottish and Highland heritage.

Whether she's singing old Gaelic lullabies or ballads, Christina songs always have a story behind them. Listen as she shares her life and love of music and history with us.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Oooops . . . sorry for missing out a few weeks of updates. Busy time with a few challenges.

Storyteller Owen Pilgrim

But without further adieu, let me introduce this week's guest -- storyteller Owen Pilgrim. Owen originally hails from the small fishing village of St Anthony's at the very northern tip of Newfoundland, but now makes his home in Fife, Scotland.

Join me as I catch up with Owen and learn more about his life, why he came to Scotland, and how he's forged a career as a storyteller, woodcarver, and Forest Schools facilitator.

The programme gets under way on Sunday 5th July at 12noon BST (UK/Ireland) on Blues and Roots Radio. Click on the preceding link and go to their website at the appropriate time and voilá, you'll be listening.

For times in the Eastern time zone in Canada and US, you'll wanting to be tuning in at 7am. And if you live in Australia, tune in at 9pm.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

This week on the Teller and the Tale I'm featuring the second of a 2-part interview with the award-winning Canadian singer/storyteller Laura Smith.

Originally from London, Ontario, Laura cut her teeth in the city's folk-music clubs during the '70s, earning herself a reputation as a songwriter and singer. She was the co-founder (with John Smale) of London's premier folk club Smales Pace, which played host to numerous Canadian and American singer-songwriters and folk groups.

Laura's career was on an upward trajectory during the '90s and early millenium. But in 2006, a series of accidents nearly ended her life and career. Subsequent addiction to pain-killers deepened the abyss she had fallen into and it seemed the world might not hear of Laura again.

However, Laura's strength and perseverance and the loyalty and support of her fans saw her eventually overcome the challenges that faced her and over the years, Laura brought herself back to her craft. In 2013 she released her first recording in sixteen years, Everything is Moving on Borealis Records. The record has received glowing reviews worldwide. It and her many concerts and performances attest that Laura's talent has only gotten better.

Laura's back.

Don't miss Part 2 of the Teller and the Tale and learn more about Laura's amazing career and music. It's a moving story.

Monday, May 25, 2015

This week on the Teller and the Tale, I return to a previous programme where I featured two of Scotland's finest storytellers -- Ruth Kirkpatrick and David Campbell. Although both live in or near Edinburgh today, Ruth and David grew up in the North-East of Scotland and still retain much of their 'mither tongue'.

Having been mentored by Traveller storyteller Stanley Robertson, she has developed a unique talent for connecting with people through story. She has pioneered the use of story with children and adolescents as part of her social and educational work and is a much sought-after workshop leader and speaker. Listen as Ruth shares her story of the 'Seven Ravens' taken from her recent Stories Allways resource pack where she is also accompanied by the excellent musicians Gica Loening and Jenny Gardner.

David Campbell, storyteller

David Campbell was born in Edinburgh but raised in the fishing town of Fraserburgh on the Moray Firth in the north-east of Scotland. A former teacher and BBC Radio Producer, David has developed a sensitive ear for story and language. His passion for story was further enriched through his friendship with another Traveller storyteller Duncan Williamson, of whom he has written a 2-volume account of Duncan's life and their friendship. Today I feature David's story about the famous song 'Loch Lomond', taken from the CD Scotland in Love, which David recorded with the singer and harpist Katie Targett-Adams.

Broadcast times:Canada/US Sunday 24 May at 7am EDT; Tuesday May 26 at 8pm EDT; and Thursday 28 May at 4pm

UK/Ireland Sunday 24 May at 12noon GMT; Wednesday 27 at 1am; and Thursday 28 May at 9pm

Australia Sunday 24 May at 9pm EDT; Wednesday 27 at 10am; and Friday 29 May at 6am.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

He's been called the "Robin Williams of storytelling" and has earned many accolades. He calls himself a Shakespearean actor, a juggler, a mummer, a banjo player & raconteur. He's none other than Ed Stivender and if you've never heard of him, you're in for a treat. Let Ed tickle your funny bone with three stories. Starts Sunday 17 May at 12noon GMT (UK/Ireland), 7am EDT (Canada/US) and 9pm EDT (Australia). Check bluesandrootsradio.co.uk for times in your part of the world.

Monday, May 4, 2015

On the Teller and the Tale this week, I offer a "rewind" session featuring young Scottish storyteller and music teacher Alec Miller.

Alec lives and works in Aberdeen where, among other things, he leads ACE, a community organisation that offers children and young people a holistic experience of music, singing, storytelling, and outdoor education. Alec's a great champion of storytelling among young people as a way of helping them find their voice and share their experiences. Many of those he works with come from backgrounds where such opportunities are rare or beyond the reach of their parents' budgets. Along with his volunteers, Alec has succeeded in transforming the lives of children, young people and their communities through story and song and a love of the environment.

Listen to Alec share his own story and a tale called "The Luckless One" only on The Teller and the Tale, only on Blues and Roots Radio.

Begins Sunday May 3 at 12noon GMT (UK), Tuesday May 5 at 8pm GMT and Thursday May 7 at 4pm. Check www.bluesandrootsradio.co.uk for times in your part of the world.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Missed one of our programmes? had to work or slept in? Don't worry. Now you can catch up with some of our past shows by clicking on the "Listen Again" button above. Listen when it suits you and enjoy our storytellers and their tales at any time.

Every month, I will upload another programme. Just imagine if you learned all the stories told by our tellers. Why you'd be ready to start telling stories yourself. And who knows, maybe you'll be my next guest.

If you're a storyteller, get in touch. Use the "Send Voicemail" button to the right or send an email to iamthestoryteller[at]gmail[dot]com. And if you're an avid listener, get in touch and let me know what you like. And don't forget to subscribe to the Teller and the Tale newsletter. That way you'll never miss who's on and when.

Meanwhile, why not go to the "Listen Again" page and enjoy one of your favourite storytellers or discover someone new. It's storytelling told "eye to eye, mind to mind, and heart to heart."

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

This week on The Teller and the Tale I feature Scottish storyteller and author David Campbell.

David is one of Scotland's premier storytellers and certainly one of its most respected elders and tradition bearers. Raised in the north-east of Scotland, he was immersed in the rich multi-lingual cultural that included the Scots language, English, and the Doric tongue. He first acquired his love of story and song from the men and women of the Traveller tradition and would later befriend the great Traveller storyteller Duncan Williamson, of whom David has written a two-volume account.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing David in session, will appreciate that they are in the presence of a master storyteller, a word-weaver equally adept with Shakespeare or Dylan Thomas, as he is with the Scots poets like Hugh Macdiarmid, Norman McCaig, and Hamish Henderson. In fact, David had the privilege of learning from them. But perhaps his greatest teacher (and sidekick) was the aforementioned Duncan Williamson. When once asked why storytelling was so important, Williamson remarked, "Stories are oor education." David has not only been one of Duncan's greatest students, but a wonderful teacher in his own right who has shared stories and his vast experience with many other storytellers (yours truly included).

David, along with another master storyteller Donald Smith, helped to found the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, a centre which supports and develops the ancient art of storytelling across the land and sea. In his long career, David has been an author, poet, teacher, broadcaster, traveller, musician, and storyteller extraordinaire.

Join me on the Teller and the Tale beginning this Sunday morning for a half-hour in the company of David Campbell as he shares aspects of his life and career . . . and, of course, a story.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Due to a mix-up on times last week, I'm repeating this show again starting Sunday 22 March at 7am (Canada/US) and 11am (UK/Ireland). Repeated on Tuesday at 8pm (Canada/US) and 12midnight (UK/Ireland) and Thursday 4pm (Canada/US) and 8pm (UK/Ireland). North American times are EST and British times are GMT. Check www.bluesandrootsradio.com for times in your part of the world.

This week on The Teller and the Tale, I'm joined by Scottish storyteller Amanda Edmiston.

Born in Aberdeen, Amanda's has travelled and lived in different parts of the UK before coming to Glasgow as a single mother to study herbalism. It was around this time that she also took up storytelling, no surprise given that she grew up in a storytelling household (Amanda's mother is storyteller Jean Edmiston).

However, before she began her life as a storyteller, Amanda spent time studying Native American art and culture in America, an influence which also finds its way into her stories. She also studied human rights law and ashtanga yoga, a practice which still informs and inspires her work.

Recently, Amanda has been working with the "Living Voices" programme, sharing poems, stories, and songs with the elderly in a highly participative project. She's also at home in the classroom telling stories with children and young people, inviting them into the ancient world of herbal and botanic folklore demonstrating the importance of our relationship with the natural world.

In addition to her solo work, Amanda frequently collaborates with other artists and musicians exploring local history, people, plants, and the important life-giving connections between them all. Learn more about Amanda's work at http://www.botanicafabula.co.uk/About-Us.html.

One of those works is Atropa Nights, a collaboration with musician Louise Cairns. In it, Amanda tells tales of dangerous plants, wilful women, and the men that loved them. One reviewer has written,

“I was incredibly impressed by Amanda's storytelling. I found her performance gripping. Her incredibly theatrical physical presence, combined with her the deep voice, she drew her audience through a series of tangled and entwined triptych of tales, involving and enthralling her audiences in equal measures whilst creating characters that bring a smile with humorous asides and observations that keep her voyeurs hanging on her every word and transfixed with her every gesture.”

Amanda will be taking the show to the Logan Botanic Garden, near Port Logan in Dumfriesshire, in May 2015 so check her website--Botanica Fabula-- for dates and times.

Join me as I catch up with Amanda in her home near Stirling to chat about her life and storytelling and learn more about her passion for herbal and botanic folklore and story. It all starts off on Sunday 15 March at 7am EST (Canada/US) and 11am GMT (UK/Ireland) only on Blues and Roots Radio (www.bluesandrootsradio.com). Check the Blues and Roots Radio website for details of times in your area.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

This week on The Teller and the Tale, feature three different storytellers: comic actor Bob Newhart, actor Anthony Griffith, and storyteller and host of the Prairie Home Companion Radio show, Garrison Keillor.Bob Newhart is an icon of American comedy. Newhart came to fame during the 1960s with his appearances on the Ed Sullivan show where his deadpan humour and trademark stammer had audiences laughing hysterically. He developed the comic monologue to new heights with his particular use of the imagined telephone conversation. In this episode, I feature one of Newhart's classic storytelling routines -- a conversation with Sir Walter Raleigh about his proposed introduction of tobacco to the Old World.

Anthony Griffith

Anthony Griffith is an actor and storyteller, whose appearance in 2003 on the famous Moth storytelling stage in Los Angeles has earned him more than a million views on YouTube. In this story, "The Best of Times, the Worst of Times," Griffith tells the heart-breaking story of success and loss. It's a story right from the heart, the sort of story that has earned the Moth the place to go to for personal stories of all kinds.

Garrison Keillor

Like Newhart was for his generation, Keillor is a storytelling icon for our age. His wry humour and observations of small town life draw comparisons with the likes of Mark Twain and Stephen Leacock. Keillor develops these in his famous stories and sketches of the inhabitants of Lake Wobegon, a fiction town in northern Minnesota. Keillor, of course, is also known for his long-time hosting of public radio's Prairie Home Companion, a live recording format which brings to mind the golden years of radio drama and storytelling at its best. Here, I feature Keillor as an honoured guest at The Moth in New York City on the occasion of being awarded a Moth Award for his contribution to the art of storytelling in 2007. You can also learn more about our guests and listen to other shows at The Teller and the Tale web site www.thetellerandthetale.com.Michael WilliamsHostThe Teller and the Talewww.thetellerandthetale.comwww.facebook.com/thetellerandthetale

Friday, February 6, 2015

Join me this week on the Teller and the Tale radio as I meet up with storyteller and artist Owen Pilgrim. Born in Canada and growing up in the far north of Newfoundland, Owen acquired a deep love of nature.

In 2001 he graduated from Nova Scotia's College of Art & Design with a specialty in sculpture. Moving to Scotland, he developed his creativity through the art of wood-carving which sparked a deep love of trees and their role in mythology and folklore.

Owen supported his art through part-time employment as a tree surgeon, an occupation which allowed him to become better acquainted with trees and their surroundings. Eventually, he trained and qualified as a Forest School leader and wove his love of trees into his storytelling as well as his carving.

Today, Owen is an accomplished and creative artist and storyteller. When he's not busy working on a commissioned piece of woodwork, he can often be found facilitating a storytelling workshop or performing for a group of schoolchildren. Owen is also one of the founders of the Blether Tay-Gither storytelling club in Dundee, not far from where he lives.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Speaking from her home in Brittany, Fiona reminisces about her life in Scotland, Ireland, and France as well as share a wonderful story. Begins Sunday 1st February at 12noon GMT (UK/Ireland) and 7am EST (Canada/US). Repeated on Tues/Wed and Thursday. Blues and Roots Radio (www.bluesandrootsradio.co.uk).Fiona was born in Perthshire and raised there and in northern Ireland before following her grandmother's footsteps and heading off to France.

It was in Paris, 25 years ago, that Fiona first heard a storyteller. That experience hooked her and she's never looked back. Now living in the traditional village of Locronan, Fiona has made herself at home within storytelling circles, performing and giving workshops to children, young people, and adults.

Fiona is as passionate about the environment and our fellow creatures as she is about storytelling. She recently 'adopted' a donkey from a nearby sanctuary and often contributes her storytelling talents to raise awareness of environmental issues, including holding an annual week-long storytelling in nature workshop.

You can read more about Fiona's interests and storytelling on her Facebook site

Fiona is an energetic traveller having taken her talents to North America, performing in Montreal, Canada among other places. Back in France, she's even followed in the footsteps (or donkey steps) of Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, retracing much of his 19th-century journey around France.

Don't miss this talented and effervescent storyteller with a joie de vivre.

"French is my adopted language. My grandmother spoke and loved this language at the beginning of the 20th Century. I am her continuation. As we say in stories, 'Walk today, walk tomorrow, if you just keep on walking, you will find the path.' "

Saturday, January 24, 2015

This week on the Teller and the Tale, I pay tribute to the Scottish bard Robert Burns. January 25th is, of course, the anniversary of the birth of the "Ploughman Poet". Born in 1759 in the village of Alloway, near Ayr, Burns grew up in a poor tenant farming family. Nevertheless, his parents saw that their son received a good education.

Perhaps to ameliorate the hardships of ploughing fields, Burns developed a taste for reading. It wasn't long before he turned his hand to writing poetry, inspired by the likes of Robert Fergusson and others. As he grew older, Burns also found pleasure in drink and women. He fathered two children with Jean Armour, a woman he would later marry, but not before having a fling with "Highland Mary", with whom he nearly emigrated to the West Indies. However, her sudden death and the popularity of Burns' first volume of poetry convinced him to stay in Scotland and develop his talent.

By the age of 27, Burns was famous throughout the land. Writing in both English and Scots, Burns had a keen sense of how to best reach a wide audience in both countries. However, like many young celebrities, Burns soon spent his money on women and drink and pub pals. Broke, he returned to Dumfries and took up a job with the Excise Department, not one of the best-loved jobs among ordinary rural folk. Nevertheless, a little more security gave Burns time to write and collect songs and renew his relationship with Jean Armour.

Sadly, Burns died--worn out from his hard life--in July 1796. He was buried with the honours befitting a national bard. Today, his reputation seems to know no bounds. Burns Night is celebrated not only in Scotland but all over the world, from Argentina to Zanzibar.

Our tribute to Robert Burns begins at 12 noon GMT on Sunday January 25th. And if you sleep in and miss it, catch it again on Tuesday/Wed at 1am GMT and Thursday at 9pm GMT. Check www.bluesandrootsradio.com for times in your area.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

In Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, Blues & Roots Radio (BRR) personnel sat back to look at their listenership and came to the conclusion that a vast number of listeners were tuning in from the UK. With the Canadian station's numbers and acquisitions having more than doubled since its launch and a growing number of hosts based overseas, it became very obvious to owners Stevie & Anne Connor that the next step was to launch Blues & Roots Radio UK (www.BluesandRootsRadio.co.uk). And, the face and voice to do it with was that of Michael Williams.

Michael Williams, Head of Operations in UK & Europe

Michael will take on the role of solidifying BRR’s growing reputation within the UK and Europe. He has a background in media, music and corporate team building. Michael has been hosting the popular storytelling programme, "Teller & the Tale" on BRR for nearly two years and was quoted as saying, "The success of Blues & Roots Radio can be attributed to its mandate to support the artist first. Without them, we have nothing. I believe in the station's philosophy to support independent artists across the globe and to provide our listeners with the best music and story emerging from the grass roots."As part of the station's objective to stream 24/7 globally with current offices in Port Credit, ON, Canada and Melbourne, Australia, it's become clear that listeners wanted and needed more in the UK and Europe. With a growing listener base and musical offerings, it was time to offer hub pages with targeted time-zone based landing pages, schedule pages as well as local up-to-date news.Stevie Connor, CEO Global Operations, is truly excited by this next step for Blues and Roots Radio and after repeatedly saying, " Can we launch yet?" was quoted as saying, "This cements our growing reputation for since the 4th quarter of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 we have gained a tremendous amount of listeners from the UK; it's time to grow together and the launch of a global website with localised sites inside will benefit the listeners and more importantly the artists who will have a global platform."We welcome the UK and Europe to the Blues and Roots Radio worldwide family.www.bluesandrootsradio.co.uk

ABOUT US

The Teller and the Tale is a half-hour radio programme broadcast three times a week on Blues and Roots Radio, an internet radio station based in Port Credit, Ontario in Canada. To listen simply go to www.bluesandrootsradio.com and click on the "Listen Live" button.

Each week I introduce a storyteller from Scotland or a guest storyteller from around the world. During our conversation, we learn something about our guest's life and work and listen to a story. You'll also learn where you can go to find out more about the storyteller and his or her work. And, on occasion, I also play recorded stories from storytellers old and new.

As the show's popularity has increased, I've decided the programme needed its own website. Here you'll find information about upcoming programmes, links to our guests' websites, and information about the world of storytelling. I'll also archive past shows so you can listen again once the show has had a chance to play on the radio.

So, welcome to the Teller and the Tale website. I hope you find something of interest here. Please leave your comments, questions and feedback.